>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME BACK.
IT IS JULY 6, 2021.
COUNCIL BRIEFING ORDER WILL
COME TO ORDER.
A REMINDER THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSE FROM TODAY'S
MEETING . AND WE RECEIVED
NOTICE FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD THAT SHE IS UNABLE TO
ATTEND THE COUNCIL BRIEFING.
SHE WILL ALSO BE EXCUSED FOR
THIS MORNING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
PRESENT.
JUAREZ.
HERE.
LEWIS. HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
HERE.
>> THE MINUTES WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
I DON'T HAVE ANY THING TO REPORT
ON THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE US TO
US OVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL
ACTIONS, CITY AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
REGARDING OUR CITY'S
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE WE HAVE NO ITEMS ON
THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
TRANSPORTATION UTILITY
COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS EACH MONTH
AT 9:30 EACH MONTH.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS TOMORROW.
WE WILL VOTE ON RESOLUTION 32009
, CONFERRING ON TO SOUTH HILL
STREET BETWEEN 21st AND 22nd
AVENUE SOUTH AND AN HONORARY
DESIGNATION TO CALL IT CLARENCE
COX JR. WAY.
AFTER AN AWARD-WINNING DRUMMER
AT GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR COMMITTEE AGENDA FOR
TOMORROW INCLUDES OUR FINAL
DISCUSSION ON THE STRATEGIC
PLAN FOR SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
AND WE WILL VOTE ON THAT
RESOLUTION WHICH IS RESOLUTION
32007.
AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND
VOTE WE WILL HEAR FROM THE CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL AND LEARN
MORE ABOUT WHY THEY FULLY
ENDORSE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
STRATEGIC PLAN.
WILL VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE, TO
AUTHORIZE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT TO
ENTER INTO LONG-TERM LEASE WITH
A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY FOR THE OLD
GEORGETOWN STEAM PLANT
STRUCTURE WHICH IS THE NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK.
THE LAST ITEM ON TOMORROW'S
AGENDA OF THE TRANSPORTATION
UTILITIES COMMITTEE IS COUNSEL
BILL 120115 WHICH PROPOSES TO
INCREASE ON STREET PARKING
RATES DURING LARGE SPECIAL
EVENTS NEAR KEY ARENA NOW KNOWN
AS CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA IN THE
UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
FRIDAY CIRCULATED A LETTER TO
ALL COUNCIL OFFICES AND A
LETTER OF SUPPORT DRAFTED BY
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO INCLUDE THE
FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATION FOR
EAST MARGINAL WAY CORRIDOR
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE EAST
MARGINAL WAY MULTIMODAL PROJECT
IS IN DISTRICT 2 AND WAS SURE
BENEFITS WITH MANY DISTRICT ONE
RESIDENTS WHO COULD USE THAT
ROUTE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
THE OFFICES OF BOTH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE LETTER AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL SIGN IT
AS WELL.
IT ORIGINATED WITH S D.O.T.
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF OUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHARING THIS
MEETING WE CAN ASK COUNCIL
MEMBERS WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE
TO FIX HER SIGNATURES TO
SUPPORT THE LETTER FOR THIS
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FOR THE
FEDERAL GRANT REQUEST.
THEY ARE REQUESTING $20 MILLION
FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAM
CALLED RAISE.
ACCORDING TO THE USDOT,
PROJECTS FOR RAISE A FUNDING
WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON
MERIT CRITERIA THAT INCLUDE
SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY-OF-
LIFE, ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS,
INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
WITH THESE CRITERIA THE
DEPARTMENT WILL PRIORITIZE
PROJECTS THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE
IMPROVEMENTS TO RACIAL EQUITY,
REDUCE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AND CREATE GOOD PAYING
JOBS.
THIS GRANT, THIS PROJECT IS A
GOOD FIT FOR THIS GRANT PROGRAM.
LAST THURSDAY I JOINED
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AT THE
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT COLLEAGUE AND
POLICE OFFICER LEXI HARRIS. IT
WAS A MOVING CEREMONY SHOWING
MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR THESE
DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT WHO
WAS KILLED WHILE SHE
VOLUNTARILY WAS HELPING OTHERS.
MUCH GRATITUDE TO OUR FAMILY
FOR ENABLING OUR CITY TO HAVE
HER SERVICE FOR AS LONG AS WE
DID. I AM HOPEFUL THAT ARE
UPBEAT AND COMPASSIONATE LEGACY
WILL ENDURE. A QUICK NOTE FROM
DISTRICT 4. SPECIFICALLY OUR
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO A NEW TINY HOME VILLAGE
BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER.
THE SITE AT ROOSEVELT WAY
NORTHEAST AND NORTHEAST 45th
STREET IS EMPTY TODAY, THAT IS
BECAUSE THE TINY HOMES ARE
BEING BUILT EFFICIENTLY OFF-SITE
. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CHECK ON CONSTRUCTION IN PERSON
LAST WEEK.
I WENT TO THE HOPE FACTORY.
I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT
NEARLY ALL OF THE TINY HOMES
FOR THE SITE ARE BUILT AND
PAINTED.
I GOT A TOUR FROM BARB, AND
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER, WHO HAVE
INCREASED THE PACE OF TINY HOME
CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE THANKFUL
TO SOUND TRANSIT FOR GRANTING
THE CITY ACCESS TO THE SITE FOR
AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS.
AND GRATEFUL TO THE NONPROFIT,
FOR LEADING THE EFFORT TO PULL
EVERYTHING TOGETHER. WHICH WILL
INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL CASE
MANAGEMENT TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS
TO TRANSITION FROM TINY HOMES
INTO PERMANENT LOW INCOME
HOUSING.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF ASKING FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LETTER
THAT YOU DESCRIBED RELATED TO
THE S.D.O.T GRANT . OTHER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS LETTER
BEFORE I ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLE.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE TO DETERMINE WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR
SIGNATURE AFFIXED TO THE LETTER
REGARDING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
EAST MARGINAL WAY CORRIDOR
IMPROVEMENT RAISE GRANT
APPLICATION.>> COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
YES . COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
YES.
JUAREZ.
YES.
LEWIS.
YES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
YES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
YES . COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
YES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AT THE
AFTERNOON FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WILL GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ADD HER NAME TO THE LETTER
IN OPEN SESSION AT THE TOP OF
THE AGENDA.
BUT FOR NOW, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN YOU HAVE SEVEN
SIGNATURES OF THE MEMBERS WERE
PRESENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THE REPORT. HEARING NINE WE
WILL MOVE DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR A
SPECIAL TIME ON THURSDAY, JULY
15 AT 2:00 P.M.
THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE
TWO BILLS WE BEGIN THE LAST
COMMITTEE ON THE FIGHT FOR
RENTERS TO HAVE A RENTERS BILL
OF RIGHTS.
THE FIRST BILL REQUIRES THAT IS
UP FOR DISCUSSION THAT WE
ALREADY DISCUSSED BEGAN THE
DISCUSSION LAST WEEK REQUIRES
THE LAST TIME REQUIRES LANDLORD
TO PROVIDE SIX MONTHS NOTICE
FOR RENTING INCREASES AND THE
SECOND ONE THAT IS ALSO UNDER
DISCUSSION REQUIRES LANDLORDS
TO PROVIDE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY DISPLACE
THE TENANTS WITHOUT RAGES RENT
INCREASES.
THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS
ECONOMIC EVICTIONS. I EXPECT
THAT WE WILL BRING BOTH THESE
BILLS TO A VOTE AT THE
COMMITTEE FOLLOWING THE NEXT
ONE, ON JULY 27.
AT OUR JULY 15 MEETING WHICH IS
THE UPCOMING MEETING WE WILL
VOTE ON THE CONFIRMATION OF FOR
MORE APPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD AND WE
WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON
THE PRINCIPLES OF THE RENT
CONTROL.
WE KNOW THE CRISIS FOR RENTERS
IS DEEPENING. THAT IS BECAUSE
NO TIME IN JACKING UP RENTS IN
2021.
SEATTLE LANDLORDS HAVE RAISED
RENTS AT AN AVERAGE OF 18.7%
BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE 2021.
ACCORDING TO AN INDUSTRY
ANALYST APARTMENT WAS.COM.
IN 2021 LANDLORDS ARE
INCREASING SEATTLE RENTS ARE
DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND
THIS IS JUST STUNNING. TO PUT
THIS IN MORE CONCRETE TERMS
THESE 2021 RENT HIKES WILL COST
A TYPICAL SEATTLE RENTER AN
ADDITIONAL $3300 A YEAR IN
INCREASED RENT. THIS IS COMING
AT A TIME WHEN TENS OF THOUSAND
SEATTLE RENTERS ARE DEEPER IN
DEBT DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC
AND THE RECESSION THAT HIT THE
CAPITALIST ECONOMY ALL OF LAST
YEAR.
THE SAME APARTMENT WAS.COM,
WHICH IS A LANDLORD WEBSITE,
THE SAME REPORT FROM APARTMENT
LIST.COM BOASTED TO THE
LANDLORD CLIENTS THAT QUOTE
PANDEMIC PRICING IS OFFICIALLY
OVER AND ALSO QUOTE 2021 HAS
SEEN SOME OF THE FASTEST RENT
GROWTH WE HAVE ON RECORD IN OUR
DATA.
THE SHOCKING 2021 RATE INCREASES
ARE PRECISELY WHY WE NEED TO
BAN THE RENT INCREASES WITHOUT
SIX MONTHS NOTICE AND REQUIRE
LANDLORDS TO PICK UP THE COST
OF THE TRAUMA AND DISLOCATION
BECAUSE WHEN THEY EVICT TENANTS
THROUGH RENT INCREASES WHICH OF
THE TWO BILLS UNDER DISCUSSION
IN THE COMMITTEE.
AND WE NEED RENT CONTROL ON TOP
OF THAT.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO I STARTED AT
AN AMAZON PRESS CONFERENCE WITH
THE DOZEN CLERGY AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS AND SOCIALISTS TO THE
MAN THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT
SUPPORT THE CENTRAL AREA
HOUSING PLAN WHICH HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED BY THE -- THE SENIOR
PASTOR AT THE CHURCH AND ALSO
OTHER AREA CLERGY MEMBERS FROM
CHURCHES.
AS A RESULT OF THIS ADVOCACY
AND WITH HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS JOINING US WE WANT AN
AMENDMENT IN THE FINAL BILL TO
DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE
AMAZON TAX EACH YEAR TOWARD
CENTRAL DISTRICT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WHICH WAS AN IMPORTANT
ACCOMPLISHMENT AND DIRECTLY A
VICTORY FOR THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTEST THAT YEAR BUT WE
ALSO KNOW THAT IS NOT ENOUGH
AND OVER THE YEARS I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH MANY FAITH LEADERS
INCLUDING PROMINENTLY BLACK
CLERGY MEMBERS WHO ARE EAGER TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
THEIR PROPERTIES AND ALSO ARE
ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AS PART OF THE STRUGGLE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY AND THE
MORAL MANDATE FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
THE REVEREND EXPLAINED HOW 50
YEARS AGO THE CITY'S DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT AT THAT TIME
ESSENTIALLY FORCED THE CHURCH
TO SELL ITS LAND TO THE CITY.
AND THE SELLING PRICE OF TAKING
IT THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN WAS
$34,000. THIS WAS A TRAVESTY
AGAINST SEATTLE'S CHURCH
COMMUNITY AND AGAINST THE BLACK
WORKING CLASS AND THE WORKING
CLASS AS A WHOLE.
THAT LAND TODAY IS WORTH
PROBABLY MORE THAN $2 MILLION.
AT LEAST A PART OF THE PROPERTY
CAN AND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED
INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE
CLERGY MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE STARTING TO DEMAND
THIS HAPPENED.
THE CHURCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN
TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
87 HOUSEHOLDS ON THIS PREVIOUSLY
STOLEN PROPERTY WITH COMMUNITY
PREFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN DISPLACED OR THREATENED
WITH DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF
RENT INCREASES FROM THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND WE KNOW THIS
PROJECT AS HE JOINTLY NEEDED.
REVEREND HAS SPOKEN ELOQUENTLY
ABOUT HOW THE CITY NEEDS TO
MAKE REPARATIONS THAT HAPPENED
50 YEARS AGO BY GIVING THE LAND
BACK TO THE CHURCH COMMUNITY
AND TO THE BLACK WORKING CLASS
AND FUNDING THE $10.7 MILLION
THAT ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE
PROJECT.
WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
UNION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER AND POLICY
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS MY COUNSEL
OFFICE IS PREPARING LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD BAN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM ENGAGING
IN TRAINING WITH STATES THAT
HAVE BEEN FOUND, STATES MEANING
NATIONSTATES, THAT HAVE BEEN
FOUND TO VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS.
LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC BLACK
LIVES MATTER STREET PROTEST
MOVEMENT PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE
ROLE OF THE POLICE AND THE
STATE UNDER THE SYSTEM OF
CAPITALISM.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN CITIES
ACROSS AMERICA MANY CITIES LIKE
SEATTLE WITH A DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CONTROL ESTABLISHMENT BRUTALLY
AIRED OUT BY THE REPRESSION OF
PEACEFUL PROTEST MARCHES.
LONG BEFORE THE VIOLENT
REPRESSION OF LAST YEAR'S
PROTESTS, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS HAD A HISTORY OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE AS WE KNOW
ESPECIALLY DIRECTED AGAINST
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND
AGAINST POOR PEOPLE.
NO FEWER THAN 11 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE THAN ANY 17 WENT
DEMOCRATIC MAYOR JENNY DURKAN
WAS ELECTED.
THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT
HAS FAILED TO HOLD THE SEATTLE
POLICE ACCOUNTABLE AND AMONG
THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS IS
SEATTLE POLICE MUST BE BANNED
FROM TRAINING OR HAVING ANY
EXCHANGE WITH THE MILITARY OR
POLICE OF ANY NATION VIOLATING
THE GENEVA CONVENTION OF THE
UNITED NATIONS WHICH ARE BASIC
HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS THAT
HAVE BEEN AGREED TO
INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE LAST
70 YEARS.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION MY OFFICE IS
BRINGING FORWARD IN SOLIDARITY
WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT.
NOT EVERYONE HAS BEEN FAMILIAR
WITH THE FACT THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ADMITTED
IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THEY
SENT TOP OFFICERS INCLUDING
FORMER CHIEF CARMEN BEST TO
TRAIN WITH THE ISRAELI POLICE
AND MILITARY FORCES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS
LEGISLATION SEEKS TO PREVENT.
WHICH IS ENGAGING WITH
NATIONSTATES THAT HAVE VIOLATED
THE GENEVA CONVENTION.
IT IS TROUBLING BECAUSE IT IS
THE SAME ISRAELI STATE FORCES
THAT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
BRUTALIZING THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE FOR DECADES AND WERE
CONDEMNED WORLDWIDE BY UNIONS,
STATE COMMUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHT
GROUPS AND GOVERNMENTS JUST
THIS PAST SPRING FOR THEIR
BRUTAL AND DISPROPORIONATE
MILITARY ASSAULT ON THE PEOPLE
OF GAZA AND THE ATTEMPTED
EVICTION OF PALESTINIANS FROM
EAST JERUSALEM. THE ISRAELI
STATE HAS BEEN FOUND BY
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL AND ISRAELI RIGHT
HUMANIZATION'S TO VIOLATE THE
GENEVA CONVENTION.
AND ITS VIOLENT ATTACKS ON
PALESTINIANS AND THE FORCED
SEIZURE OF THEIR LAND.
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF
JUSTICE FOUND THE ISRAELI STATE
VIOLATED THE FOURTH GENEVA
CONVENTION OF HUMANITARIAN
RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS. UNITED
NATIONS HUMAN RIGHT COUNSEL HAS
DETERMINED THAT THE ISRAELI
STATE VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL
HUMN AND CIVIL RIGHT LAWS AND
COMMITTED WAR CRIMES AGAINST
PALESTINIANS AND IN JANUARY
ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHT GROUPS
DETAILED SYSTEMIC HUMAN AND
POLITICAL RIGHT VIOLATIONS BY
THE ISRAELI STATE IN THE REPORT.
ALL OF THESE ARE VERY
MAINSTREAM LARGE ORGANIZATIONS,
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
THAT HAVE DOCUMENTED THESE
FACTS AND IN ADDITION THE
ISRAELI STATE IS ALSO FAILED TO
PROVIDE THE COVID VACCINE TO
QUOTE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
NEARLY 5 MILLION PALESTINIANS
IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK AND
GAZA STRIP. EVEN THOUGH THE
MAJORITY OF ISRAELI CITIZENS
HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.
THE QUOTE IS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH WHICH IS DOCUMENTED THIS
DISCRIMINATION AND AS NOTED
IT'S A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH
THE FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WEATHER
IS A CLEAR HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATION AND WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD TAKE A STAND AND SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION FROM OUR
OFFICE WHICH IS BEING ADVOCATED
FOR BY MANY ORGANIZATIONS
INCLUDING -- UNIONS LIKE UAW
4121, SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION AND -- AS ONE
COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WROTE
TODAY WHEN THEY SIGN OUR
PETITION CALLING FOR THE AND TO
BE STRANDING SAID QUOTE IT IS
UNETHICAL FOR SEATTLE POLICE TO
TRAIN WITH VIOLATORS OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW MOST CITIZENS
AND OFFICIALS IN SEATTLE
DECRIED FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S WILLFUL DISDAIN A
VIOLATION OF NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL LAW WE NEED TO BE
CONSISTENT AND OUR RESPECT FOR
BASIC JUSTICE. I EXPECT TO
CIRCULATE A DRAFT OF THIS AND I
INVITE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
COSPONSOR IF INTERESTED.
MY OFFICE IS WORKING WITH A
BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITY GROUPS
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WHO HAVE
FOR 15 YEARS DEVELOPED AND
COMPLET RENOVATIONS AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
PLAYFIELD'S, FACILITIES AND
OTHER PUBLIC SPACES AROUND THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER.
THIS COALITION IS A GRASSROOTS
EFFORT IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
TO CREATE A VITAL CIVIC SPACE
THAT HONORS AND TELLS THE STORY
THROUGH ART AND CULTURAL
PRESENTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LIVED HERE OVER THE
MILLENNIA.
FROM THE -- TO THE BLACK
AMERICANS TODAY.
THE GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK AND
WORKING WITH THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT AIMS TO
ENHANCE THE AREA AROUND THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER AND
THE GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL WITH
ART THAT LIBERATES THE AREA'S
HISTORY, NEW TREES AND WALKWAYS
TO ENSURE ACCESS FOR ALL, NEW
SAFE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
BATHROOM FACILITIES AND OTHER
URGENTLY NEEDED COMMUNITY
AMENITIES. THE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK IS PRECISELY THE
KIND OF EXCELLENT PUBLIC
PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED
IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. WE KNOW WHEN
COMPLETED THIS WILL BE A
COMMUNITY JAMA.
LATER THIS MONTH WHEN THE CITY
COUNCIL TAKES UP THE JULY
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET MY OFFICE
WILL BE PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT
TO USE $500,000 AT LEAST OF THE
$5.4 MILLION OF THE COUNCIL
THAT VOTED TO TAKE OUT OF THAT
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INVEST IN
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK PROJECT.
WHICH I MENTIONED IS A CONCRETE
DEMAND BY THE COMMUNITY TO
CHIFFON FROM THE POLICE TO
URGENTLY NEEDED COMMUNITY
PROJECTS.
I URGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND URGE
CAST MEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN
SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY
AMENDMENT ADDITIONALLY IMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ME
AND THE GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK
ACTIVISTS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
IN CELEBRATION AND DISPLAY OF
THE PROJECT NEXT WEDNESDAY,
JULY 14 AT 5:00 P.M.
OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
JUST QUICKLY TO REITERATE,
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK PROJECT HAS
RECEIVED SOME FUNDING AS WELL
WITH $500,000 IN SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET IT COULD GET TO SHOVEL
READY STATUS AND IT ALREADY HAS
SOME CONSTRUCTION FUNDS LINED
UP.
IN ADDITION TO ENHANCING THE
COMMUNITY THE PROJECT WOULD
CREATE GOOD UNION JOBS FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE KNOW WE NEED MORE OF THIS
KIND OF SPACE AND WE NEED THIS
AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OUR
MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT IS COMMITTED ACTS OF
VIOLENCE AMONG SOME OF THE SAME
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WILL
NEED THESE FACILITIES AND WILL
USE THEM.
WE KNOW THE COMPLETION OF THIS
PROJECT WILL AMPLIFY THE SPACE
AS A HISTORIC PLACE MAKING
GROUND IT IS HONORING THE
HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL AREA.
LAST WEEK DURING THE CITY
COUNCIL BRIEFING AT TALKED
ABOUT THE LEGISLATION MY OFFICE
HAD RECENTLY SENT FOR
INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO
DECRIMINALIZE VARIOUS
PSYCHEDELICS LIKE MAGIC
MUSHROOMS, I ALASKA AND MDMA.
WE ALSO SEND A COURTESY COPY TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD . MY
OFFICE INTENDED TO REFER THE
BUILDER COMMITTEE AFTER IT WAS
INTRODUCED.
AS I EXPLAINED LAST WEEK IN THE
BRIEFING WE FIRST MADE THE
REQUEST TO REFER A BILL TO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TWO
WEEKS AGO.
AND IF COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO SCHEDULE
, I AM HAPPY TO REFER TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR
INSTEAD.
I AM FLEXIBLE ON WHAT COMMITTEE
IT IS REFERRED TO BY A CONCERN
BY THE DELAYS I AM HAVING IN
HE INTRODUCTION. RESEAR
SHOWS THAT MANY PSYCHEDELIC
DRUGS HAVE A POWERFUL POTENTIAL
TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF
PTSD, DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION.
AND SOME HAVE LITTLE OR NO
HARMFUL EFFECTS.
THE SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE
HARMFUL LIKE ECSTASY, THE
HARMFUL EFFECTS ARE THE RESULT
OF OTHER DRUGS AS RESEARCH
SHOWS LIKE METHAMPHETAMINE. IN
CANADA THEY ARE OFFERING FREE
TESTING OF DRUGS WITHOUT ANY
RISK OF ARREST AND ESSENTIALLY
THIS IS A TESTING TENT WHERE
YOU CAN BRING YOUR DRUGS TO SEE
IF YOU'RE ABLE OR IF WHAT
YOU'RE ABOUT TO CONSUME IS WHAT
YOU THINK IT IS OR IT IS LACED
WITH SOMETHING MORE POWERFUL.
THIS HAS SAVED MANY LIVES.
BUT THE PREMISE IS THAT IT
WORKS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
WILLING TO USE IT BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE THE RISK OF ARREST.
THE POINT IS, THE DRUGS EVEN
THE DRUGS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL
WE KNOW OVERWHELMINGLY IT HAS
BEEN SHOWN THAT THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A TERRIBLY
INHUMANE AND ALSO INEFFECTIVE
RESPONSE AND IT IS PART OF THE
FAILED WAR ON DRUGS AND IT HAS
EXPANDED MASS INCARCERATION SO
DANGEROUSLY AND PSYCHEDELICS
ARE ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE
MASS INCARCERATION.
BUT THEY ARE PART OF IT AND WE
SHOULD NOT DELAY PASSING THE
OUR DEMO CRIMINALIZATION.
UNFORTUNATELY AS I SAID THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGISLATION
IS BEING DELAYED FOR A SECOND
WEEK BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD , WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY,
I WILL BE TALKING TO HER AS
WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS NOT
RESPONDED TO THE REPEATED
REQUESTS FOR MY OFFICE ABOUT
WHETHER SHE WILL ACCEPT THE
BILL TO REFER TO HER COMMITTEE
OR NOT.
SHE IS NOT PRESENT THIS MORNING
AND I AM HAPPY TO TALK TO HER
OFFICE LATER TODAY TO FIND OUT
IF SHE IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING
TO HAVE THIS LEGISLATION. IF
SO, I REFERRED TO MY COMMITTEE.
BUT I WANT TO GIVE HER EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SHE IS
INTERESTED.
AS SOON AS I LEGISLATION WAS
READY FOR MY OFFICE AND I SEND
IT TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS TO
ASK IF HE WANTED TO COSPONSOR,
HE RESPONDED RIGHT AWAY SAYING
QUOTE THANK YOU FOR SENDING BUT
NOT AT THIS TIME.
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESPONSES
FROM COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
ANY INQUIRIES DESPITE MY
OFFICE ATTEMPTING TO CALL HER
STAFF 23 TIMES LAST WEEK.
I WILL BE CONTACTING HER AND I
WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF HER
OFFICE CAN RESPOND TO MY OFFICE
TODAY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAYS
. WHETHER HER OFFICE WILL
ACCEPT IT. IF THEY WILL, WHEN
WILL THEY APPROVE THE
INTRODUCTION?
WE DON'T WANT DELAYS. AND
INSTEAD SHOULD WE REFERRED TO
MY COMMITTEE?
ONCE THE LEGISLATION IS PET
LACED ON THE CALENDAR IT MAKES
IT AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO
SEE AND COMMENT ON. IN MY
OPINION THAT SHOULD HAPPEN
WITHOUT DELAY.
I JOINED OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
IN SIGNING THE LETTER TO THE --
ASKING THEM TO RENEW THE ISSUE
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHOULD
BE USED AS AN EXCUSE TO PREVENT
EVERYONE ELSE FROM WEIGHING IN
IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW
THE INTRODUCTION IS A FORMAL
FIRST STEP TO OPEN THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE DELAYS BECAUSE THERE
ARE NOT MANY MORE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS LEFT BEFORE THE BUDGET
BEGINS.
IF THE LEGISLATION IS NOT
INTRODUCED SOON, IT WILL BE
DELAYED UNTIL AFTER BUDGET
WHICH OFTEN MEANS IT WILL NOT
BE TAKEN UP THIS YEAR AND
EFFECTIVELY WE WOULD NEED TO
RESTART THE PROCESS NEXT YEAR.
AS I HAVE SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN
I AM HAPPY TO DISCUSS WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF REFERRAL OF THE
BILL BUT I HOPE THERE WILL NOT
BE ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK THE
INTRODUCTION BEFORE A PUBLIC
AND DEMOCRATIC DISCUSSION AND
DEBATE HAPPENS. IN OLYMPIA
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION IS
BLOCKED EVERY YEAR BY SENDING
IT TO A HOSTILE COMMITTEE WHERE
IT WILL DIE.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO NOT
ESTABLISH THAT TRADITION IN
SEATTLE.
I APOLOGIZE IF MY AUDIO WAS
CUTTING OUT A BIT.
>> YOU WERE COMING THROUGH JUST
FINE.
THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT? I AM NOT SEEING
ANY HANDS RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING
ENGAGEMENT WITH MY OFFICE.
I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN HAVING GOOD
BACK AND FORTH AROUND SOME OF
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR ISSUES.
WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE ANY
UNDUE DELAY.
WE WANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON
THE PROPER PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES. I AM CONFIDENT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THIS
LEGISLATION DUE CONSIDERATION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR OFFICE
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AS
WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH
SOME OF THOSE PROCEDURAL ISSUES.
NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE PUBLIC
-- THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE
FRIDAY, JULY 16 AT 2:00.
MY REPORT THIS MORNING INCLUDES
SIX TOPICS AS USUAL.
THE OVERVIEW OF PARKS,
LIBRARIES, QUEEN CITY
INITIATIVE, NATIVE COMMUNITIES
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE
CANADIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
AND THE UNITED STATES BOARDING
SCHOOLS, SOUND TRANSIT AND A
SUMMARY OF LAST WEEK.
OTHER PARTS, LAST WEEK THE PARK
DEPARTMENT SERVED ABOUT 300
CHILDREN AND 17 CHILDCARE SITES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
BETWEEN JUNE 23 AND JUNE 29 THE
PARK SHOWER PROGRAM SERVED 350
USERS AT FIVE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT RESPONDED
QUICKLY TO THE HISTORIC
HEATWAVE OVER THE WEEKEND AND
THROUGH MONDAY BY OPENING FOR
FACILITIES WITH AIR-
CONDITIONING TO SERVE AS
DAYTIME COOLING CENTER'S. THERE
WILL BE NORTHGATE, RADIO BEACH
AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
CHINATOWN COMMUNITY CENTERS AND
BUILDING FOUR AND SIX AT
MAGNUSON PARK.
IN REGARDS TO THE QUEEN CITY
INITIATIVE DURING THE WEEK OF
JULY 21 THE QUEEN CITY CREW
REMOVED 76 76,000 POUNDS OF
TRASH IN ABOUT 1800 NEEDLES
FROM ABOUT 35 ENCAMPMENT
LOCATIONS.
CREWS FOCUS LAST WEEK THERE
DEEP CLEAN EFFORTS ON GREENWOOD
PARK AND THE -- GREEN SPACE.
A CUMULATIVELY THE PARKS ARM OF
THE QUEEN CITY INITIATIVE HAVE
CLEANED UP ABOUT 2 MILLION
POUNDS OF TRASH AND 58,000
NEEDLES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UNDER LIBRARIES I AM PLEASED TO
SHARE THAT WE HAVE FOR
LIBRARIES THAT HAVE REOPEN.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL
REOPEN GREEN LAKE, NORTHEAST,
NORTHGATE AND WEST SEATTLE
BRANCHES. WITH THE ADDITIONAL
LIBRARIES SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES WILL HAVE 21 OF THE
27 LIBRARIES REOPENED AND WE
ACTUALLY ARE BEYOND SCHEDULE ON
THAT.
THAT IS GREAT.
NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS AN UPDATE AND I AM SURE
MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS IN
THE NEWS ON CANADA'S
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS IN THE
UNITED STATES CALLED BOARDING
SCHOOLS.
OF MORE REMAINS OF CHILDREN
BEING FOUND.
THERE IS A REASON WHY I AM
BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
A BRIEF RECAP OF THAT, IN MAY
2015 I'M SORRY IN MAY, THERE
WERE 215 UNMARKED GRAVE THAT
WERE DISCOVERED BY CANADA FROM
THE FIRST NATION GROUP AT THE
-- INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
FOLLOWING THAT DISCOVERY IN
JUNE, WE HAD ANOTHER 700
ANOTHER 750 REMAINS MAINLY OF
INDIGENOUS CHILDREN AT THE
MARYVILLE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL
SCHOOL. AND LAST WEEK OR JUNE
30, THE -- ANNOUNCED A
DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER 182
UNMARKED GRAVES FOUND CLOSER TO
A FORMER INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL
NEAR BRITISH COLUMBIA.
WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CHILDREN.
FOR OVER A CENTURY OUR COUNTRY
HAS ENACTED LAWS AND
IMPLEMENTED POLICIES
ESTABLISHING AND SUPPORTING
INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS ACROSS
THE NATION GETTING WITH THE
INDIAN CIVILIZATION ACT OF 1819
AND CONTINUED OVER A CENTURY
THROUGH THE 1960S.
THESE LAWS LED TO THE CREATION
OF 367 NATIVE BOARDING SCHOOLS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
AND IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE --
BOARDING SCHOOL AT EVERETT AND
THE CUSHMAN SCHOOL. AND LATER
THE CUSHMAN HOSPITAL, WHICH NOW
THE TRAVEL COMMUNITY CENTER AND
HOSPITAL AND CASINO SITS ON
THOSE GROUNDS.
AND ALSO -- INDIAN SCHOOL IN
OREGON WHERE MY PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS WENT.
WITH OVER 70 NATIVE BOARDING
SCHOOL STILL OPERATING TODAY.
ON JUNE 22 THE UNITED STATES
INTERIOR SECRETARY ANNOUNCED
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR WILL
CONDUCT A NATIONWIDE SEARCH OF
FEDERAL BOARDING SCHOOLS FOR
POSSIBLE BURIAL SITES OF NATIVE
AMERICAN CHILDREN.
BASICALLY, OUR INTERIOR
SECRETARY HAS PUT TOGETHER A
GROUP TO INVESTIGATE THROUGHOUT
THESE OTHER BOARDING SCHOOLS TO
GO BOOK FOR CHILDREN BEING
BURIED.
IN ADDITION, AS A CONGRESSWOMAN
, SHE AUTHORED THE TRUTH AND
HEALING COMMISSION ON INDIAN
BOARDING SCHOOL POLICY IN THE
UNITES STATES TO ESTABLISH THE
FIRST FORMAL COMMISSION IN THE
UNITED STATES HISTORY TO
INVESTIGATE DOCUMENT AND
ACKNOWLEDGE PAST INJUSTICES OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
CULTURAL GENOCIDE AND
ASSIMILATION PRACTICES.
THIS ACT WAS COSPONSORED BY THE
SENATE BY SENATOR ELIZABETH
WARREN.
THE HISTORY OF BOARDING SCHOOLS
IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR PUSH TO
GO INTO NOT JUST BOARDING
SCHOOLS, FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, CATHOLIC CHURCH,
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO
REEDUCATE AND ASSIMILAT NATIVE
CHILDREN BEING TAKEN FROM THEIR
FAMILIES IS NOT NEW.
WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS
FIGHT SINCE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE
FINALLY SEEING HOW IMPORTANT
THIS IS AND I CANNOT HELP BUT
BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE
NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN HEADING
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR THAT
IS NOW GOING TO HAVE THIS TRUTH
AND COMMISSION AND THIS
INVESTIGATION INTO THESE
CHILDREN.
NOT ALL OF THEM DIED FROM SOME
DISEASE. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE
RETURNED TO THEIR PEOPLE AND
CULTURALLY BURIED THE
APPROPRIATE WAY.
IN A RECENT ONLINE OP-ED OF
NATIVE ACTION NETWORK, IT WAS
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VAST
MULTIGENERATIONAL IMPACT B-
SCHOOLS OF THAT ON ALL NATIVE
FAMILIES WITH THE FOLLOWING
WORDS AND I WANT TO SHARE THIS
QUOTE TO YOU BECAUSE MANY HAVE
HEARD ME TALK ABOUT TRAUMA,
HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND WHAT THAT
IS DONE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
NOT JUST THE NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY.
EACH OF THESE EXPERIENCES OF
GENOCIDE AT THE HANDS OF THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OVER THE
GENERATIONS EXPLAINS WHAT IS
CALLED HISTORICAL AND
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
THIS ALSO EXPLAINS WHY AMERICAN
INDIANS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE
THE WORST OF THE WORST
STATISTICAL OUTCOMES ON EVERY
DIMENSION.
THIS INCLUDES THE LOWEST HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, HIGHEST
RATES OF SUICIDE, THE HIGHEST
RATES OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ADDICTION AND THE HIGHEST RATES
OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK
ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND
UNFORTUNATELY THIS COUNTRY HAS
HAD A FEDERAL POLICY ON THE
STATE POLICY OF REMOVING OUR
CHILDREN OF BREAKING UP FAMILIES
, OF DENYING US THE RIGHT TO
VOTE UNTIL 1924 AND WE CONTINUE
TO FIGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS OUR OFFICE
IS DOING A CONDUCTION WITH
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP OUR OFFICE IS
DRAFTING A RESOLUTION IN
SUPPORT OF SECRETARY HOLLAND'S
RECENT ACTIONS AND
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF THE
CREATION OF THE COMMISSION.
THS TRACK WILL BE SHARED WITH
YOU SOON AND I HOPE I LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.
IN REGARDS TO SOUND TRANSIT.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE SOUND
TRANSIT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
WHICH DISCUSSED THE BOARDS CHAIR
, PROPOSAL FOR REALIGNMENT.
AS YOU KNOW WE WILL BE VOTING
ON THAT AND WE MAY OR MAY NOT
VOTE ON THAT ON JULY 22.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE RIDERSHIP
AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WHERE
WE REVIEW TO CONTRACTS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER McDERMITT.
THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR JULY 22 AND AS I
SHARED THIS MEETING MAY INCLUDE
A VOTE ON THE CHAIRS PROPOSAL.
LAST WEEK SUMMARY, I TOURED THE
DETECTIVE COOKIE CHESS PARK IN
SOUTH SEATTLE WHICH IS UNDER
DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME AROUND.
I ATTENDED THE LAKE CITY
FARMERS MARKET WHERE I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING DR.
CRAWFORD.
SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF NORTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE AND DR.
CRAWFORD RANG THE BELL
ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THE
LAKE CITY FARMERS MARKET AND IT
IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT.
HEARING NINE.
WE WILL GO DONE ALIVE.
NEXT IS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES .
>> GOOD MORNING.
ON THIS SHORT WEEK I MAY SET MY
RECORD FOR MY SHORTEST BRIEFING
UPDATE.
I APPRECIATE BEING HERE THIS
MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
FOR MY OFFICE.
NOR IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS.
LATER THIS WEEK I WILL BE
MEETING AS A MEMBER OF THE
OVERDOSE EMERGENCY AND
INNOVATIVE RECOVERY WORKGROUP
TASK FORCE THIS COMING THURSDAY
AND I WILL ALSO TAKE A TOUR OF
THE NICHOLASVILLE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGE IN THE WALLINGFORD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
LATER THIS WEEK.
OTHER THAN THAT, IN ADDITION TO
MY COMMITTEE APPEARANCES, AS A
MEMBER OF THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE AMONG OTHER
COUNSEL COMMITMENTS, I DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ON AT
THIS TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A SHORT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND THEN WE WILL HEAR
FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WAS EXPECTING A LITTLE MORE
TIME.
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
I REGRET THAT I HAVE TO BEGIN
ANOTHER BRIEFING BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE LOSS OF LIFE
IN MY DISTRICT.
ON FRIDAY TWO PEOPLE WERE HIT
BY A TRAIN AT A RAIL STATION.
WE KNOW MOST OF THE STATIONS IN
THE RAINIER VALLEY WERE
CONSTRUCTED AT GRADE AND THAT
LEAVES PEDESTRIANS AT EXTREME
RISK WHEN TRYING TO CROSS BOTH
THE TRACKS THEMSELVES AND THE
MAJOR ARTERIAL OF MARTIN KING
JR. WAY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE NO
SAFETY GATES OR ANY OTHER KIND
OF BARRIER TO PROTECT
PEDESTRIANS.
I STILL DON'T KNOW THE NAMES OF
THE VICTIMS.
THEY WERE A 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
AND A 66-YEAR-OLD MAN.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
THERE ARE MIDDLE SCHOOLS ALONG
THE CORRIDOR ON EITHER SIDE OF
THE TRACKS.
WE'VE GOT STUDENTS, ELDERS,
PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES,
WHO REGULARLY CROSS THESE
TRACKS AND USE THEIR STATIONS.
I HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH
SOUND TRANSIT ABOUT THE GENERAL
SAFETY NEEDS IN THE RAINIER
VALLEY AND THIS INCIDENT
DEMONSTRATES HOW CRITICAL IT IS
THAT THE EXISTING STATIONS
RECEIVE THE INVESTMENTS AND
SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
WHEN THE TRACKS WERE ORIGINALLY
BUILT.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES WERE RAISED
. AND YET, THEY WERE
CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT ANY SAFETY
EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. I OFFICE
WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
THIS AND ADVOCATING WITH SOUND
TRANSIT AND SOME AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
FUNDING TO KEEP THOSE MEASURES
IN PLACE.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S CALENDAR, I
HAVE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS TUESDAY,
JULY 20.
WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT I
AM COSPONSORING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
PROVIDE AN HONORARY DESIGNATION
OF SOUTH HILL STREET BETWEEN
21st AND 22nd AVENUE AS
CLARENCE COX JR. WAY.
IS COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON
MENTIONED THAT WILL BE IN HIS
COMMITTEE TOMORROW.
REGARDING DEPARTMENTS, THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE RECEIVED 78
APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING. THAT
ROUND JUST CLOSED.
THERE WAS ABOUT $15 MILLION IN
ASKS.
MOST OF IT FOR LAND
ACQUISITION.
THERE ARE ONLY $6.8 MILLION
AVAILABLE.
I THINK IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES
THE HUGE DEMAND FOR SUPPORT IN
COMMUNITY LED DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS IN THE CITY.
AND ARE EXCITED TO KNOW THEY
DID SUCH A GREAT JOB ADVERTISING
THE OPPORTUNITY.
CLEARLY, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE DEMAND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
DO TO HELP SUPPORT THAT MORE.
EDI IS PULLING TOGETHER THE
REVIEW COMMITTEE. THERE WILL BE
DECISIONS AT THE END OF AUGUST.
I THINK IT WAS OVER 75% OF THE
REQUESTS WERE FOR LAND
ACQUISITION.
THE $6.8 MILLION WILL FUND THE
PROJECTING MAY BE BETWEEN 7-10
PROJECTS.
ADDITIONALLY, IN MID JULY
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FOR THE
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND.
AND THE EDI ADVISORY BOARD WILL
MEET NEXT WEEK, SORRY, NEXT
MONTH.
THEY HAVE A RETREAT. THIS BOARD
IS FINALLY COMING TOGETHER AND
THE HOPE WAS THEY WOULD BE
SEATED IN TIME TO BEGIN WORKING
TOGETHER AND DISCUSS HOW THEY
WILL BE USING JUMPSTART MONEY
IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER
FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
JUMPSTART FUNDING IS PART OF
THE FIRST CONVERSATION. REALLY
THERE IS HUGE DEMAND FOR
PROJECTS, SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
PROJECTS AND BECAUSE THERE IS
ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THERE IS
ALSO AN INTEREST IN THE
PARCHMENT, IN THE DIVISION OF
ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST. PART OF
THE DISCUSSION WILL BE HOW TO
ADDRESS ALL OF THE NEEDS AND
THE DEPARTMENT.
LAST WEEK MY STAFF AND I MET
WITH OUTREACH WORKERS FROM
REACH AND NEVER CARE TO HELP
DISTRIBUTE WATER AND SUPPLIES
DURING THE EXCESSIVE HEAT ON
MONDAY.
WE MET WITH SEVERAL NEIGHBORS
LIVING AT AN ENCAMPMENT IN
GEORGETOWN TO CONTINUE TO
REITERATE THEY NEED SAFE, NON-
CONGREGANTS SHELTER.
WHERE THEY CAN BE WITH THEIR
PARTNERS AND WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
AND THAT INCLUDES PLACES FOR
FOLKS TO LIVE IN THEIR RVS.
AND MANY PEOPLE WE MET WITH
LAST WEEK WERE NOT IN RVS, THEY
WERE LIVING IN A TENT. I CAN
TELL YOU THE HEAT FROM CONCRETE
OR ASPHALT WAS REALLY
OPPRESSIVE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUTREACH
WORKERS WERE OUT IN DISTRIBUTED
WATER.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
OUTREACH WORKERS WHO WERE REALLY
WORKING HARD TO TRY TO KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE IN THE HEAT.
THIS WEEK I WILL MEET WITH THE
CID PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO
TALK ABOUT SOME ISSUES IN THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
. THAT WILL BE TOMORROW
AFTERNOON.
MY STAFF AND I ALSO CONTINUE TO
COORDINATE WITH MEMBERS OF THE
MOUNT BAKER COMMUNITY WHO ARE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED
FOLLOWING A SHOOTING THAT
HAPPENED. FOLLOWING THAT
INCIDENT, WE HAD A MEETING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH SOUND
TRANSIT, OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL AS A STATE SENATOR.
AND AT THE MEETING A MEMBER OF
THE MAYOR'S STAFF WAS PRESENT.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR
ATTENDING.
THEY DID COMMIT TO HOLDING A
FORM WITH NEIGHBORS SO THE
MAYOR COULD HEAR FIRSTHAND FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR
CONCERNS.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND AT THAT MEETING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS REQUESTED
THAT A NEARBY PARKING LOT,
WHICH IS OFTEN USED AS A SPOT
FOR DRUG DEALING, THAT PARKING
LOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
NEIGHBORS FOR THEIR OWN PARKING
NEEDS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO
PARK FAR AWAY AND WALK THROUGH
WHAT HAS BECOME A FAIRLY
DANGEROUS SPACE. THE LOT IS
PART OF THE SITE THAT IS HELD
BY THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. MY
OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING SO WE CAN TRY
TO GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED
AND SEE IF THERE COULD BE A
TEMPORARY USE WHILE THE PROJECT
IS IN DEVELOPMENT.
I ALSO TOWARD THE -- SITE.
THAT IS A SITE BETWEEN THE
STADIUM AND THE HIGHWAY.
AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF
CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AROUND
MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL LANDS.
NEIGHBORS IN PIONEER SQUARE
INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT
PIECE OF PROPERTY, THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO CONSIDER THEIR OWN
VISION FOR WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK
LIKE.
SO WE MET WITH NEIGHBORS FROM
PIONEER SQUARE AND SEVERAL
FOLKS FROM WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR PLANS FOR
CREATING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE.
NEIGHBORS ALSO EXPRESSED A REAL
INTEREST -- I SHOULD SAY A
CONCERN IN THEIR CAPACITY. THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND THE PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ABOUT TO
EMBARK ON THE EIS PROCESS FOR
THE SOUND TRANSIT, TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT THE STATION LOCATION
DECISION SHOULD BE.
THEY ARE VERY INVESTED IN
MAKING SURE THAT THEIR CAPACITY
AND ENERGY CAN GO TOWARD HAVING
THE KIND OF COMMUNITY INFLUENCE
IN THAT PROCESS THAT THEY
EXPECT AS RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESS OWNERS OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE IS ALSO INTEREST IN NOT
HAVING A SECOND EIS PROCESS
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. I
HAVE ASKED MY OFFICE TO BEGIN
CONVERSATIONS TO TRY TO SEE IF
THERE CAN BE JUST A LITTLE BIT
OF A DELAY IN THAT EIS SO THEY
CAN DO ONE THING AT A TIME.
WE WILL BEGIN CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT IS IT FOR ME.
MY LAST REQUEST IS THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK TO BE EXCUSED ON
MONDAY JULY 26 AND MONDAY JULY
26 AND MONDAY, AUGUST 16.
>> IS THAT FROM FULL COUNCIL?
>> YES.
>> YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THAT
REQUEST DURING OTHER BUSINESS.
>> OKAY.
>> DURING FULL COUNCIL.
THAT WILL PREPARE ME FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT. HEARING NINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA AND THEN I WILL
CONCLUDE THIS PORTION OF THE
AGENDA.
AND HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD
WEEKEND.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETING ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
THE FIRST IS 120017.
THIS IS FOLLOW UP LEGISLATION
TO LEGISLATION WE PASSED LAST
YEAR.
LAST YEAR THEY PASSED
LEGISLATION 126161 TO CREATE
THE 2021 LT GEO TAXABLE BOND
FUND. AND AUTHORIZED A FUND TO
SUPPORT FUNDING ON THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE 2021 BOND PROJECT.
EXCUSE ME.
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE 2021
BOND PROCEEDS.
THIS WAS BEFORE THE 2021
ADOPTED BUDGET WAS PRESENTED
AND BEFORE DECISION TO REPAIR
OR REPLACE THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE WERE MADE.
THE 2021 ADOPTED BUDGET
ANTICIPATED ADDITIONAL TAXABLE
BOND SALES FOR THE OVERLOOK
WALK AND AQUARIUM EXPANSION
PROJECTS AND DIRECTED THOSE
PROCEEDS TO THE SAME FUND.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTERED OF
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SINCE
DETERMINED THAT WE CAN SELL
NONTAXABLE BONDS FOR THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE REPAIR AT THE
BONDS PROCEEDS WILL NEED TO BE
HELD IN A SEPARATE FUND FROM
THE TAXABLE BOND.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL DO THAT
AND IT WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING, EXCUSE ME.
IT WILL GO STRAIGHT TO FULL
COUNCIL AVOIDING THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
THE EXPECTED DATE THAT WE WOULD
BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS IN OUR
FULL COUNCIL MEETING WOULD BE
JULY 12. WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER
ITEMS ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. WHEN YOU
PULL UP MY NOTES.
WE HAVE A GROCERY WORKER HAZARD
PAY LEGISLATION AND THE
JUMPSTART FUND, WHICH I WILL
TALK ABOUT.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE ON THE
AGENDA FOR FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING.
ON FRIDAY AT 9:30 A.M.
THE GROCERY WORKER LEGISLATION
IS COUNSEL BILL 120119.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD AND
HAZARD PAY REQUIREMENTS AND
RECOGNITION OF THE CONSIDERABLE
PROGRESS MADE TOWARD SUPPORTING
THE HEALTH AND SECURITY OF
FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HIGH
RATES OF VACCINATIONS AND
REDUCED THE NUMBER OF COVID-19
EXPOSURE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.
WE DID HEAR ABOUT THE IMPROVED
TRENDS FROM THE FOLKS AT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY AT OUR LAST MEETING.
WE DID PASS THE HAZARD PAY
LEGISLATION. AFTER SEEING OTHER
CITIES ACROSS THE WEST COAST
TAKE UP SIMILAR LEGISLATION
OFFERING FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR
EXTRA PAY REQUIREMENT FOR
FRONTLINE GROCERY STORE WORKERS
TO HAVE BEEN RISKING THEIR
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR
FAMILIES BY GOING TO WORK
DURING COVID.
WE HAD A COMMITMENT AND IT
LEGISLATION THAT WE WOULD
REVISIT IT AFTER FOUR MONTHS.
AND THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT
COMMITMENT COMING AROUND.
THE LEGISLATION WENT INTO
EFFECT IN FEBRUARY AND AFTER WE
HEARD FROM THEM IN JUNE WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS
LEGISLATION FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT IF
THIS BILL IS TO PASS THE HAZARD
PAY REQUIREMENTS, SPECIFICALLY
AROUND FOUR DOLLARS, ARE NOT IN
EFFECT BUT THE REST OF THE
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY STORE
EMPLOYEES WOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT
THAT INCLUDES RECORDKEEPING
REQUIREMENTS, PROHIBITION
AGAINST RETALIATION,
PROHIBITION AGAINST
ENFORCEMENT.
AND WOULD CONTINUE FOR THREE
YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
LEGISLATION.
AND THEN IT WOULD BE SUNSETTING
AFTER THE THREE YEARS WITHOUT
SUBSEQUENT ACTION BY COUNSEL.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW
WE DID DO OUTREACH TO THE
UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL
LOCAL 21 AND WE ALSO HAD
MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY AT OUR
PANEL AND FOLKS ARE WELL AWARE
THAT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO CALL
FOR GREATER PROTECTIONS FOR
FRONTLINE WORKERS OVERALL AS
THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTENDED
TO BE TEMPORARY THERE IS ALSO
ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEED
FOR GROCERY WORKERS WHO HAVE
ACCESS TO EQUITABLE VACCINES
AND PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES AND
ALSO TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES
CONTINUE TO BE HEARD ABOUT
SAFETY CONCERNS WITHIN GROCERY
STORES OVERALL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THEM IN THOSE ENDEAVORS THAT
ARE ONGOING.
THE NEXT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IS WHAT I REFER TO AS THE
JUMPSTART FUND.
THIS IS THE JUMPSTART SEATTLE
FUND CREATED THROUGH COUNSEL
BILL 120118 CALLING FORWARD
THIS LEGISLATION FOR THIS
CONSIDERATION.
IT WILL BE UP FOR DISCUSSION
BRIEFING A POSSIBLE VOTE ON
FRIDAY AT 9:30 A.M.
FOLLOWS THROUGH ON JUMPSTART
SEATTLE'S COMMITMENT AND IT HAS
BEEN WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTIONS OF
THIS AS WELL.
WHO HAVE NOTED THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE
TAX LEGISLATION WE PASSED LAST
YEAR WHICH MEANT THERE WAS NO
BUDGETARY LAYOFFS, NO DRASTIC
OR DRACONIAN CUTS TO COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND WE AVOIDED
AUSTERITY BUDGETING AND MEANT
WE COULD USE ALL THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO INVEST IN ADDITIVE
PROGRAMS AND ADDITIVE SUPPORT
FOR THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF
BACKFILLING HOLES LIKE MANY
CITIES ARE DOING WITH THEIR
FEDERAL FUNDS.
WE ALSO JUST RECENTLY HAD A
COURT VICTORY THAT HAD
DISMISSED THE CHARGE AGAINST
JUMPSTART WITH PREJUDICE, WHICH
MEANS WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO
SEE THIS LEGISLATION CONTINUE
TO REMAIN IN LAW AND ARE
ANTICIPATING 2022 FUNDS COMING
IN.
AS YOU RECALL, IN 2022 THE
SPEND PLAN WE PASSED THE
RESOLUTION FOCUSES ON PERMANENT
FUNDING STRATEGIES IN HOUSING,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, GREEN
NEW DEAL AND ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE SECTORS. ALL
SUBSEQUENT BUDGET STARTING IN
2022 REALLY WILL HAVE A CHANCE
FOR US TO CENTER THOSE
PRIORITIES IN HOUSING
HOMELESSNESS ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE AND DIRECT AID TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING
IN A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY AS
WE SEEK TO RECOVER FROM COVID.
IS LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
ALSO BILL 120 120118 ON FRIDAY
HELPS ACCOMPLISH TWO GOALS.
THE FIRST IS TO CREATE A MORE
TRANSPARENT AND MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THE
JUMPSTART REVENUES THAT WE WILL
BE RECEIVING STARTING IN 2022.
TO TRACK EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS
EXPECTED TO COME IN SINCE OUR
INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, THE
PROJECTIONS AND WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL REVENUE
IS STARTING IN 2022.
THE SECOND THING WILL MAKE GOOD
ON THE PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS
WE MADE TO THE LARGE COALITION
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN CALLING FOR PROGRESSIVE
TAXES AND SPECIFICALLY WORKED
ON CREATING THE SPEND PLANNED
AS DETAILED IN THE ORDINANCE.
YOU WILL SEE THAT THE
LEGISLATION CODIFIES WHAT WE
PUT INTO THE RESOLUTION IN THE
FIRST PLACE AND IS IN LINE WITH
OUR COUNSEL'S VALUES AROUND
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ALIGNING THE INTENT OF THE
GOALS OF THE STAKEHOLDER PLAN
AND THE HUNDREDS OF
STAKEHOLDERS WHO HELPED TO BUILD
JUMPSTART AND WE ARE EXCITED
ABOUT THE LEGISLATION IN TERMS
OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY
MEASURES AND A WAY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH ON
THOSE SPEND PLAN REQUIREMENTS
THAT WE PUT IN THE ORIGINAL
PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION.
THS ALSO HAS A REFERENCE TO
THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATIONS
VERSIGHT BOARD WHICH INCLUDES
A COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND FUNDS
OF THE TAX WE PROVIDED IN LAST
YEAR'S LEGISLATION.
AND IT INCLUDES SOUND BUDGETING
STRATEGY BY MAKING SURE THERE
IS A VALVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF
THERE IS A REVENUE SHORTFALL
BELOW OUR PRE-COVID BASELINE
PROJECTIONS, WE CAN POTENTIALLY
BE FLEXIBLE BUT THE INTENT IS
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADHERING TO
THE SPEND PLANNED AS ORIGINALLY
CODIFIED IN THE LEGISLATION.
THOSE BILLS WILL BE ON THE FAN
IT'S AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
AGENDA ON FRIDAY AND WE WILL
HAVE THE SOUTH PARK PROPERTY
ACQUISITION LEGISLATION.
THIS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES US
TO ACQUIRE TWO PARCELS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
ALONG WITH COMMUNITY GROUND-
FLOOR SPACE.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING IS ABLE TO
USE THE DIRECT ACQUISITION OF
AUTHORITY THAT WE ALLOWED FOR
IN MY COMMITTEE TWO YEARS AGO
WHERE WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING AVAILABLE TO $30
MILLION.
WE DO THIS THROUGH AN AMENDMENT
I SPONSORED IN THE
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE PLAN
THAT WE PASSED IN 2019.
AND WE INCREASE THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING ABILITY TO ACT QUICKLY
ON THIS TYPE OF ACQUISITION
RECOGNIZING THE MORE PUBLIC
PROPERTY THAT WE CAN ACQUIRE TO
CREATE PUBLIC GOODS LIKE
HOUSING AND GROUND SPACE FOR
CHILD CARE AND COMMUNITY
CENTERS IS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY DURING
THIS COMPETITIVE MARKET THAT WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW. IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
HAVE EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOL
KIT.
THIS WAS AN INCREASE WE MADE
TWO YEARS AGO AFTER YOUR SUPPORT
, LIFTED THE CALF TO ALLOW FOR
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO HAVE
RATER ACQUISITION AUTHORITY IN
THE FUTURE.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON
FRIDAY.
AND THE LAST PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO PREVIEW IS THE
COVID EXTENSION LEGISLATION.
THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT
NARROWLY FOCUSES ON ALLOWING AN
EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAMS
APPLICATIONS FOR PROJECTS THAT
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION COMING TO AN MY
COMMITTEE IN AUGUST THAT WILL
IMPLEMENT OTHER CHANGES MADE TO
THE PROGRAM BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THAT ADDRESSES A
BROADER SCOPE OF ISSUES. THIS
LEGISLATION AND COMMITTEE
NARROWLY FOCUSES ON A SMALL
HANDFUL OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID AND ARE
EXPECTING DELAYS THAT
NECESSITATE EXTENSIONS TO THEIR
APPLICATION WINDOWS. ALL THIS
HELPS US MOVE TOWARD CREATING
ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN OUR REGION
, WHICH IS SO DESPERATELY
NEEDED.
OTHER UPDATES, LAST YEAR I HAD
-- IT FEELS LIKE LAST YEAR.
LAST WEEK IT WAS A YEAR AGO IN
TERMS OF MY AGE. LAST WEEK I
HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE
ASPEN INSTITUTE FROM GERMANY.
I ALSO HAD THE CHANCE ALONG
WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES TO TALK
TO SENATOR MURRAY AND EXTEND
OUR APPRECIATION FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP OF
THE FUNDS AND HAD A CHANCE TO
DO AN OVERVIEW OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT SEATTLE PASS
THROUGH THE SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN
AND I APPRECIATE SENATOR
MURRAY'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO
HELPING US HAVE SUPPORT FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CHILDCARE.
CHILDCARE AS A COMPONENT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK WE ALL FELT A
COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF AS
ADDITIONAL WILL DOLLARS WERE
PASSED AND POTENTIALLY WILL BE
COMING TO OUR REGION VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF HER LEADERSHIP.
AND LASTLY FROM THE FINANCE
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES UPDATES
WE HAVE A FEW NOTICES TO GIVE
YOU UPDATES ON.
FAS DID RESUME NOR IS READINGS
THAT WERE HALTED DUE TO COVID-
19.
THEY PERFORM THREE NOISE
READINGS DUE TO COMPLAINTS FROM
THE PUBLIC AND DUE TO THE COVID-
19 PRECAUTIONS THE INSPECTORS
ARE TAKING OUT THE READINGS AND
ONLY FAS WILL FOLLOW UP WITH
OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS IN AN
ADVISORY MANNER TO SHOW THE
RESULTS.
FROM THE FIRE STATION AIR
SAMPLING READINGS I WANTED TO
UPDATE YOU THAT FAS IS
CONTINUING TO DO AIR-QUALITY
SAMPLINGS FOCUSING ON TAKING
SAMPLES FROM VARIOUS FIRE
STATIONS AND THEY HAVE CONDUCTED
SAMPLINGS THAT FIRE STATION 16,
17, 22, AND 38.
NO CONCERNS WERE FOUND AND A
HUGE NOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS
FROM OUR TEAM AT FAS TO -- WHO
HAD BEEN SELECTED AS THE
WASHINGTON STATE VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AWARDS
COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE THE 2021
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
A PROVIDER WITH US AT THE
SEATTLE ANIMAL SHELTER
FOUNDATION. AND HAS BEEN
NOMINATED FOR HER OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF
SHELTER MEDICINE AND THE AREA
OF FORENSIC AND CRUELTY
INVESTIGATIONS AND PROTOCOLS
RELATED TO BRINGING FORWARD
TECHNIQUES FOR LEGAL CASES.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT IS IT FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT
REPORT?
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NOT
ANY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO MY
REPORT REALLY QUICKLY.
AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ADJOURN FOR THIS MORNING.
FIRST UP IS INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THIS
AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I HAVE ONE ITEM. THAT IS AGENDA
ITEM 7 ON THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR WHICH IS
COUNSEL BILL 120120.
THIS IS AN EMPLOYMENT RELATED
ORDINANCE THAT WILL GIVE CIVIL
SERVICE THAT US 25 PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE OFFICERS WHO PROCESS
THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS OF
ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
TWO POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY
ASSIGNED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IN THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
AND ONE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. THIS LEGISLATION WAS
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE CITY ATTORNEY OF ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE OFFICERS.
IT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE CITY
OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES ARE
SHIELDED FROM POLITICAL
INFLUENCE WHILE CARRYING OUT
THEIR DUTIES TO RESPOND TO
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST ON
BEHALF OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP FOR PROTECTING
THE TRANSPARENCY AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE PROCESS AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE REQUESTS
ARE DIRECTED AT ELECTED
OFFICIALS. WE WILL BE TAKING
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO FURTHER
INCLUDE THE PUBLIC RECORD
DISCLOSURE PROCESS AND THIS
LEGISLATION IS A SINGLE AND
FIRST STEP OF THAT BROADER
EFFORT. WE WILL CONSIDER IT
THIS LEGISLATION AT MY NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 AT 2:00
P.M.
OTHER THAN THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION I HAVE NOTHING ELSE
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA SCHEDULED FOR
FINAL ACTION.
THIS THURSDAY, JULY 8 THERE IS
A MEETING OF THE PS RC
TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD AND
THE BOARD WILL WELCOME THE
PUGET SOUND PARTNERSHIP FOR
PRESENTATION ON ITS 2022, 2026
ACTION AGENDA UPDATE INCLUDING
COORDINATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH
THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
THE BOARD WILL ALSO BE
PRESENTED WITH UPDATED DATA ON
ESTIMATES OF REVENUES AND
EXPENDITURES FROM HERE THROUGH
2050 AS PART OF THE PLAN'S
FINANCIAL STRATEGY.
LASTLY, COLLEAGUES YOU MAY HAVE
RECEIVED A NOTE IN YOUR INBOX.
I BELIEVE THIS MORNING, FROM
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCE DIRECTOR BOBBY HUMES.
HE HAS PROVIDED US WITH NOTICE
THAT HE IS ENDING HIS TIME OF
SERVICE WITH THE CITY, EFFECTIVE
JULY 30.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN THE
MEANTIME WILL BE IDENTIFYING AN
INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
I WANT TO WISH DIRECTOR HUMES
MUCH LUCK IN HIS NEXT ROLE AS
THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE
INVESTMENT BOARD.
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR HUMES AND
HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE WISH HIM MUCH LUCK AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR ONCE ONE IS
IDENTIFIED BY MAYOR DURKEN.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NINE.
THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD
MENTION QUICKLY, I KNOW MANY OF
YOU ARE WONDERING WITH THE
REOPENING OF WASHINGTON, WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO OUR OPERATIONS
IN THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL AND
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. I
WILL SEND OUT MESSAGES
PROVIDING CLARIFICATION AND
GUIDANCE TO EACH OF YOU AND
YOUR OFFICES AND OTHER
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT STAFF.
IN TERMS OF OUR PUBLIC
MEETINGS, THE PROCLAMATION
ISSUED BY GOVERNOR INSLEE THAT
ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO DO
REMOTE PUBLIC MEETINGS, IS
STILL IN EFFECT.
AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH
SEVERAL FOLKS, IT APPEARS THE
PREFERENCE IS TO CONTINUE TO
CONDUCT OUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS VIRTUALLY AND REMOTELY
UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR.
AND THAT WILL BE A PRACTICE
THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S
PROCLAMATION RELATED TO THE
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT AND
HOW WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS.
FOR NOW YOU CAN EXPECT THAT THE
STATUS QUO WILL CONTINUE IN
TERMS OF HOW WE CONDUCT OUR
CITY BUSINESS, WHICH IS VIA
ZOOM.
IF THOSE OPERATIONS ARE SET TO
CHANGE FOR ANY REASON I WILL
MAKE SURE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A
FULL AMPLE NOTICE.
YOU CAN EXPECT THINGS TO BE AS
THEY ARE AS RELATES TO
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FULL
COUNCIL MEETINGS AND COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETINGS UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE. I WILL PROVIDE SOME
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE TO YOU,
CONSISTENT WITH SOME WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE RELATED TO RETURN TO
OUR POLICY.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND AS
USUAL MY OFFICE AND SPECIFICALLY
BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF ARE
AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF
WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
OR NEED FOR INFORMATION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. I
AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
IF QUESTIONS EXIST.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF
THE ORDER?
I AM NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
THIS MORNING.
I WILL SEE YOU ALL AT 2:00 THIS
AFTERNOON.
FOR NOW, WE ARE ADJOURNED.